The Lenovo A7 and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G represent different approaches to the budget and mid-range smartphone market. The A7 aims for ultimate affordability, while the A53 5G attempts to deliver a more premium experience with 5G connectivity and a brighter display. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you decide which best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is the superior choice. Its significantly more powerful Exynos 1280 chipset and brighter display offer a smoother, more enjoyable experience, justifying the price difference. However, the Lenovo A7 remains a viable option for those on the absolute tightest of budgets.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 14, 20, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66 - SM-A536U |
| 5G bands | - | 2, 5, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536U |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 2, 5, 48, 66, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536V |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, April 13. Released 2019, April 13 | 2022, March 17 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2022, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 155 x 75 x 12 mm (6.10 x 2.95 x 0.47 in) | 159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1 mm (6.28 x 2.94 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | - | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1560 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~282 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.09 inches, 91.0 cm2 (~78.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Unisoc SC9863A (28 nm) | Exynos 1280 (5 nm) |
| GPU | IMG8322 | Mali-G68 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie) | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7X", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS
12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm
5 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | - | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 5 MP | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | - | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (market/region dependent) |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue | Black, White, Blue, Peach |
| Models | L19111 | SM-A536B, SM-A536B/DS, SM-A536U, SM-A536U1, SM-A5360, SM-A536E, SM-A536E/DS, SM-A536V, SM-A536W, SM-A536N, SM-S536DL |
| Price | About 100 EUR | $ 151.42 / £ 185.00 / € 169.14 |
| SAR | - | 0.75 W/kg (head) 1.58 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.89 W/kg (head) 1.60 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 113h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-26.5 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 329802 (v8), 379313 (v9)
GeekBench: 1891 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Lenovo A7
- Extremely affordable price point
- Functional for basic smartphone tasks
- Acceptable battery life (113h endurance)
- Weak processor performance
- Likely low-quality display
- Limited camera capabilities
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
- Powerful Exynos 1280 processor
- Bright and vibrant display (830 nits)
- Fast 25W charging
- Higher price compared to Lenovo A7
- Potential for software bloat (Samsung)
- May experience some thermal throttling under heavy load
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, peaking at 830 nits, making it far more usable outdoors under direct sunlight. While the Lenovo A7’s display specifications are unavailable, it’s reasonable to assume it falls considerably below this level given its price point. The A53’s 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a Super AMOLED panel, offering deeper blacks and more vivid colors compared to the likely LCD panel on the A7. This difference is crucial for media consumption and gaming.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but details are limited for the Lenovo A7. The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G likely features a more sophisticated camera system, benefiting from Samsung’s image processing expertise. While sensor sizes and apertures are unknown for the A7, the A53 5G’s camera system is expected to deliver superior image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. It's important to note that the inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on many phones in this price range often provides minimal benefit to the average user.
Performance
The performance gap between these devices is substantial. The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G’s Exynos 1280, built on a 5nm process, features a combination of two high-performance Cortex-A78 cores and six efficiency-focused Cortex-A55 cores, clocked at 2.4GHz and 2.0GHz respectively. This contrasts sharply with the Lenovo A7’s Unisoc SC9863A, a 28nm chip with four Cortex-A55 cores at 1.6GHz and another four at 1.2GHz. The 5nm fabrication process of the Exynos 1280 translates to better power efficiency and reduced thermal throttling during sustained workloads, making the A53 5G the clear winner for gaming and demanding applications.
Battery Life
Both phones share an endurance rating of 113 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage patterns. However, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G supports 25W wired charging, allowing for significantly faster recharge times compared to the likely slower charging speeds of the Lenovo A7. This faster charging capability is a practical advantage for users who need to quickly top up their battery throughout the day.
Buying Guide
Buy the Lenovo A7 if you need a functional smartphone for basic tasks like calls, messaging, and light web browsing, and your budget is extremely limited. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G if you prioritize performance for gaming and multitasking, a vibrant and easily viewable display, and future-proof 5G connectivity, and are willing to spend a bit more.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 1280 in the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G tend to overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Exynos 1280 is a capable chip, it can experience some thermal throttling during extended gaming. However, the 5nm process helps mitigate this, and the A53 5G's thermal design is generally adequate for most gaming scenarios. Expect some performance dips after an hour of intensive gameplay.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G actually useful for taking detailed close-up photos?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras on phones in this price range offer limited detail and image quality. While they can capture close-up shots, the low resolution often results in soft and noisy images. It's a feature that many users may find themselves rarely using.
❓ Can the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G reliably maintain 60fps in popular games like PUBG Mobile?
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G can generally maintain 60fps in PUBG Mobile with medium graphics settings. However, to achieve consistently smooth performance, you may need to lower the graphics settings further, especially during intense firefights. The A7 will struggle to maintain stable framerates even on the lowest settings.
